Former English fell running champion Lauren Jeska is accused of attempting to kill UK Athletics official Ralph Knibbs

Former English fell running champion Lauren Jeska has appeared in court charged with the attempted murder of a UK Athletics (UKA) official at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham.

Jeska, who is listed as a member of Todmorden Harriers on the West Yorkshire-based club's website, is accused of stabbing Ralph Knibbs, who is head of human resources and welfare at UKA.

According to West Midlands Police, officers were called to the stadium at just before 10.30am on Tuesday (March 22) after reports that a man had been stabbed. Knibbs is said to be in a stable condition in hospital.

On the Todmorden Harriers website, 41-year-old Jeska is described as the women's 2010, 2011 and 2012 English fell running champion, who also won the British Championship in 2012.

Jeska, of Wesley Terrace in Machynlleth, Powys, also faces a further two charges of wounding and possession of a bladed article.

She was remanded in custody and will appear at Birmingham Crown Court on April 25.

Alexander Stadium is the headquarters of UKA, with the national governing body having moved to Birmingham from Solihull in 2011.

Only a year ago Abdi Abdi, a promising young athlete from Birchfield Harriers, was jailed for four years following a string of gunpoint robberies in the same Alexander Stadium area.